What it means
Said after you’ve tempted fate by bragging that things are going alright, to stop yourself jinxing it. You’ll tap something wooden, the table, your head, whatever’s handy, or mime it if there’s no wood about. It’s the quick little verbal seatbelt in a chat, usually followed by frantic tapping and a nervous laugh.
Usage examples
"Car’s been running sweet all year, touch wood. Dan starts patting the bar like a loon, then clocks it’s laminate and goes, We’re doomed."
"We've not had a single breakdown all year, touch wood."
"The weather should hold for the wedding, touch wood, she said tapping the table."
Where it comes from
An old superstition: touching wood was thought to keep bad luck away, maybe a nod to tree spirits or the wood of the cross. You say it after tempting fate, then tap the nearest table to seal the wish and dodge the jinx.
Editors of this term
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